CARDIORESPIRATORY ASSESSMENT OF 24-HOUR CRASH-DIET EFFECTS ON ALTITUDE, +GZ, AD FATIGUE TOLERANCES

Eleven male surrogates of general aviation pilots, 25-40 years old, were tested for altitude, +Gz, and fatigue tolerances with and without previous fasting for 24 h. Testing included 2 min of lower body negative pressure (LBNP) at -40 torr (equivalent to +2Gz) after 118 min at 3,810 m chamber altitude and, after returning to ground level pressure, ergometry of 50 watts (W) for 6 min. The fast had no statistically significant effect on altitude and fatigue tolerances. One subject, who tolerated 2 min of LBNP in the nonfasting condition, lost useful consciousness during this test in the fasting condition. Although the remaining 10 subjects tolerated 2 min of LBNP in both fasting and nonfasting conditions without statistically significant differences in quantitated parameters, 2 of them during fasting manifested symptoms usually associated with impending syncope. Pilots should be informed that a 24-h fast may reduce the margin for safe tolerance of > or = +2Gz flight maneuvers. (Author)

  • Record URL:
  • Corporate Authors:

    Federal Aviation Administration

    Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, P.O. Box 25082
    Oklahoma City, OK  United States  73125
  • Authors:
    • Lategola, M T
    • Lyne, P J
    • Burr, M J
  • Publication Date: 1981-2

Media Info

  • Pagination: 23 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00346723
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
  • Report/Paper Numbers: FAA-AM-81-2
  • Files: NTIS, USDOT
  • Created Date: Jan 29 2003 12:00AM